Is God at Work in Vegas? Esther. Unspoken Lessons
Bevan walks us through Esther 7:1-8:2 sharing reflections on some of the unspoken lessons that are in this passage. He reminds us: that God still works for good, that evil has an expiry date, and that God still turns tables. He challenges us to step out in faith as we were made for 'such a time as this.'
Life Group Questions
Is God at Work in Vegas? Esther Part 7. Unspoken Lessons
Read Esther 7:1 – 8:2
- What stands out to you?
- What observations or questions do you have about the text?
- What might this mean for us?
Watch Right Now Media: The book of Esther – Danielle Brown session five
Discuss
Esther judges that now is the time to reveal her ancestry and the threat to her people.
- How are you at asking for what you want, at being direct about a problem and offering a solution?
- What strategies do you have to avoid procrastinating conversations that might involve conflict or discomfort?
- What practices do you have to help listen well when someone else is asking for what they need?
- The king storms out into the garden to have some time to process his anger.
- What stands out to you about the way the Bible talks about anger?
- How do you process anger?
- What do you find is the emotion that your anger tends to mask?
- Is there some way God is wanting to use your righteous anger (or passion or sense of justice) to involve you in bringing about change?
Haman receives the consequences of his own machinations – impaled on the pole he set up for Mordecai. He receives justice through retribution – what he intended to do was done to him.
- When is it helpful to treat others the way that you want to be treated?
- When is it not helpful to treat others the way that you want to be treated?
- What are your experiences of the way our culture deals with the consequences of other people’s bad decisions?
- What would have made those experiences better?
- How have you felt after having been forgiven for wrong things you have done?
God offers both perfect justice and perfect forgiveness.
- How do you think that works?
Pray for courage in initiating conversations, restraint in processing your anger and help in reconciling with people in your world.
Practise: If you have a conversation that needs to be had, tell someone in the group so they can keep you accountable to raising that conversation. If you need help processing your anger, tell someone in the group so they can pray, and consider seeking wise counsel. If there is a relationship that needs repairing, make a plan with someone of what first step you can make to do your part.
Romans 12: 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone